Bodo National Conference wants peace process with NDFB to be expedited

New Delhi, June 18 (ANI): Members of the Bodo National Conference met the representatives of the Centre recently to urge them to hasten the peace process with the anti-talk National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Leaders of the Bodo National Conference met the Joint Secretary (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, Shambhu Singh, and interlocutor P.C. Haldar on Tuesday. Hagrama Mohilary, the chairman of the Bodoland Territorial Council, led the delegation.

The hour- long meeting catered to issues like the release of Ranjan Daimary, leader of the NDFB, granting him the same status as ULFA head Arabinda Rajkhowa, and expediting the peace process with the outfit.

Kampa Borgoyri, a spokesperson of the Bodo National Conference, was hopeful of affirmative action by the Centre.

"We hope to initiate a discussion between Government and Bodo groups soon to end all kind of problems and start a formal peace process. Ranjan Daimary should also be released along with other underground leaders. I met Joint Secretary, Home Ministry and discussed these issues and he ensured that every step would be taken. We are hopeful that both sides will soon come forward for discussion," Borgoyri said.

The government has welcomed Bodo leaders, but has not hinted at a specific time frame for the beginning of formal talks.

Haldar has already begun ground level negotiations with Ranjan Daimary, currently lodged in the Guwahati jail.

Diamary is responsible for many acts of violence in Assam. He allegedly masterminded the October 2008 serial blasts at the Guwahati High Court that killed more than 100 people and injured over 300.

NDFB cadres have killed many Hindi speaking people and attacked several convoys of security forces.

Daimary, who was hiding in Bangladesh, is in police custody since 2010 after being caught at the Dawki outpost in Meghalaya. (ANI)